Clea

Aldehydes are obviously missing from the notes. This is from the time people still liked to smell clean and I will never understand how that can become unfashinonable. What? Ladies of respectable age are the only ones that are supposed to smell like soap? What is wrong with this world ? Anyway, I love this. There is nothing screechy or metallic in this. Floral aldehydes sometimes are abrasive and cold. This little darling is everything but. It's delightfully indulgent, creamy and soapy. It melts and merge with skin. The base is a very welcoming amber, noble wood and vanilla. As much as I enjoy discovering challenging perfumes, I rarely enjoy wearing them. I prefer comfort and quality. I'm so glad I have finally bought it. It's still sold at YR Benelux websites and often at half price. I'm glad to have found out that the person behind it's conception is Françoise Caron, that explains a lot. She was impressive. Also, since there was 60eth birthday edition some time ago, this baby was probably early 60ies child. It is in the same style as Calèche, Climat and Madame Rochas. Those 70ies ads prove earlier than 1980 existence. By the way, this is classic floral aldéhyde. There is nothing chypré about it, no structure, no attitude. Just because someone proclaimed something "chypré", that doesn't make it so. Also, just because there is a bit of bergamot and patchouli in something, it's not necessarily chypré. But, it's a start.

I've been hesitating for a month to purchase a $70 bottle of the new formulation/new bottled Guerlain Liu. I've been collecting chypres for four years now. I soon discovered that I often like bargain/drug store chypres as much as I like designer and luxury chypres. I've also had my eye out for a vintage bottle of Clea. I bought four bottles, two large and two small, for $30, while the Liu is still on hold. I mention Liu because I'm thrilled by this vintage Clea chypre. The seller has clearly tried and failed to clean off decades of crud from the bottles and caps, but the juice is clear and in great shape in all 4 bottles. Vintage Clea opens a soapy aldehydic chypre and the charming molecules have "natural" vibrations, and are very satisfying. 30 minutes in, the aldehyde fades and it becomes gorgeous. Though projection dies off quickly with old bottles, so it is basically a skin scent. Clea is often discussed as a parfum de maman but I experience it as languidly carnal, in a friendly way, in comparison to today's conceptual, high-tech, post-IFRA concoctions. In short - the original molecules of the time of manufacture + age in the bottle = a luxurious treat in 2024. And in Europe there are bottles of the vintage all over the internet, often attracting little interest. Sellers list vintage bottles for prices ranging from $20 to $120! A $20 bottle is likely to be a successful purchase.

I like this very much. Many reviewers seem to think it smells like Chanel n° 5, and I agree. But as much as I dislike N°5, I love Clea ! I find it a lot more subtle and elegant and, unlike some I actually think it is more modern and less "loud" than other more famous - and more expensive !- aldehydic fragrances. The thing is I associate strong aldehydic scents with haughty, upper class French women who used to wear them during the seventies. I was only a teenager then, but I remember how the powerful aldehydes or chypre notes that surrounded them always seemed to remind me I was just some kind of peasant. Clea is much more understated, but manages to be just as classy and sophisticated. The amber is very noticeable, a bit too much for my liking since I am no fan of amber, but it does make the fragrance less formal than, say, Hermes Caleche. I call it my "little black dress " scent, because I know I can reach for it on almost any occasion without wondering whether it is appropriate : I just know it will be. And it is one of the very few fragrances that agree with my skin chemistry during the colder season, with very good lasting power. I wouldn't wear it in summer or spring though, at least not during the day as I find it to be a warm, intimate kind of fragrance.

My mom’s favourite fragrance. It’s an old story but I’m sharing it, I remember my mom CONSTANTLY talking about Yves Rocher’s “Cléa” perfume, she said, “It was the best perfume I ever smelled, it was a long time ago... I smelled it and when I thought about buying it, it was discontinued.” Very sad for mommy, about 20 - 30 years have passed, and she never forgot it. It breaks my heart, I guess we all know that feeling. We’ve all been there, we found THE amazing thing, we are waiting for a better moment and put it aside thinking that it will always be there the day we come back... But then this is where we miss the opportunity. Moreover disgust, anger, sadness and then regrets take over. When I was old enough to do my own research, I found some resellers on vinted. So I then gifted to my mom (the old format). She was literally so happy. But so was I. She then said that the scent was still there, and that in fact, the perfume had not really expired. She used all the fragrance, and kept the bottle as a souvenir. ♡

It reminds me of my childhood while spending time with my grandparents. When I smelled it back then I found it nice but too mature for me. But now I bought a bottle on ebay and I must say, it s the most gorgious perfume of all time!! I m so enjoying it when wearing it outside and the wind is sharing it with me even more!! I cant get enough of it! It s so comforting and so warming , and unlike most fragances of nowadays. AND IT DOES HAVE A LOT IN COMMON WITH THE NEW PERFUME LA PANTHERE in a way YOU CAN T TELL THEM APART AT SOME POINT. But even so, I like clea more than La Panthere, since La Panthere is sharper so it gives away a lot of its comforting quality. Not the speak of the difference in price!!

I bought it sort of blindly, at a local thrift shop - I believe it's a 50 ml bottle of the original version at about... guess what? 3 Euro. There was not much time to test it, so I just had a look at Fragrantica reviews. Only back home I realised what a precious little gem I just got. Love the No. 5-like opening, like a quotation of flowery, subtle aldehydes. It is there for a brief moment, then dissolves into sweetness. The patchouli and amber are present, but only a hint of them, on my skin I get vanilla, caramel and honey. There's something amazing about the mixture of aldehydes with their sweetness. Unexpected, feminine, sweet and classy. Love the scent!

Recently discontinued, yet another beautiful fragrance disappears, possibly because this type of aldehydic soapiness is too much of a challenge for the modern market. Clea really is 'classic French perfumery'. Bracing, sparkly, fresh, understated, creamy white florals and a deep woody base. Don't be fooled by the fact that so many people have voted amber as a dominant note. Yes you'll get an amber base but the ride is primarily about exquisite floral soap. This is not a sweet oriental scent. It does have lots of similarity to the famous 20th century aldehydes, yet retains a clear character of its own.

Clea is a beautiful, warm sweet perfume. The sandalwood and vetiver give it a very slight woody touch. The florals are wrapped in sweet amber and vanilla, creating a very smooth, rich formula. Patchouli is light, but gives Clea staying power. Definitely a skin scent, Clea is soft and delicate....very ladylike. Lasting power is more than 10 hours. Projection is moderate to soft. Really beautiful totally feminine fragrance. A truly lovely floral classic.

I sooooo agree with the three reviewers beneath me. Clea is a true masterpiece!! It might be the only Yves Rocher 'vintage' that survived decades!! Knowing Yves Rocher discontinues almost EVERY perfume (just a matter of time), that is an accomplishment for Clea. It seems that people never ever get tired of this masterpiece. And rightly so..

I have been wearing this regularly throughout the summer and love it. It is a warm fragrance, mostly from the sandalwood with amber and I also get the vanilla. It has a moderate sillage which isn't overpowering. Longevity on me is about 4 hours, so if I'm out all day I need to remember to take it with me. Gorgeous shaped bottle.

Nice creamy and bitter gardenia, so lovely perfume! It's so much better than new generation's artificial perfumes. I had a fortune to find Clea in charity chop with ridiculous price. Longlasting (8 hours on me edt!!!),strong,classic perfume for who loves flowers.Remands me a lot Organza.

Very floral. Great longevity - it is still there the next day when you sniff the application spot. Just one dab is plenty. Silage is arms length to a bit beyond. It gives me a happy smile every time.

The cute little fragrance, so cozy, feminine, soft, floral-abstract. Similar to Chanel Five and yet quite on its own. At some point you can remember about the Climat. It's timeless perfume.

My aunt brought me this perfume from france a long time ago, and I fell in love with it, but unfortunately I can't find it in yves rocher stores here in morocco💔

I have this in EDT and pure perfume, and I feel so incredibely rich to have it in pure perfume!! It is such a wonderful dark white flower perfume!!

This one is sooo wonderful!! Yves Rocher has died this last weekend and I will miss his inspiration...

I wore this one this week too. Glorious fragrance, rich rich rich and SUPERLASTING!! Action

Summary: While a very nice, classy woody-floral soap in the summer, this fragrance really shined on me when in a crisp winter day I have worn more sprays of it. It became a nice, classy woody-floral soap which sometimes, upon drydown, becomes darker, bitter-er and more carnal-tropical. A different take on the aldehydic soapy classic fragrances which I am enjoying :) I own a decanted sample received on a giveaway (thanks olgaolga18), not sure of the decade it is from. --- New review on a winter day: Starts similar to the feel I got when I wore it in the summer, a classic warm white soap, elegant and understated. However, this time I sprayed more and upon drying down I got a stronger vetiver, dark, bitter and almost smoky but not quite, almost leathery but not quite. Also, here the ylang-ylang is more prominent than in the summer, interestingly, and it becomes very subtly carnal in a way I deeply enjoy. Classy but dark and soapy but carnal. Very well done. I find it much more delightful in the winter for this darker twist. --- Classy warm white toilet soap. Woody, warm, understated elegance. Clean but not severe. I get the comparison to Chanel no5, but they give me a different vibe. This one is less sparkly and more like a warm scent of skin washed with a good woody-floral soap. On a warm day, I get pleasant wafts of sandalwood, gardenia and possibly vetiver (something dry and bitter) on a base of good white soap. Enjoyed it.

I recently ordered from the Netherlands Yves Rocher website a couple of discontinued perfumes for a very good price. Part of the deal was receiving Clea the 60 years anniversary edition as a gift, so I confess I was rather curious of the scent, than looking forward to having yet another perfume (that I don't love) in my collection. From the first spray it felt like a million memories were played in front of my eyes and I was transported back in time when I was 8 years old. My mother and my grandma and probably every other woman in my family has been wearing this scent in the form of a makeup remover/body lotion decades ago. (for the Romanians out here, this smells identical to Doina - the body milk) It is not modern at all, very retro and aldehydic, however, not stinky strong, but creamy and soapy. If you are a vintage passionate, it will probably be your cup of tea. My taste in fragrance varies, so I love it, but it will not be one I wear on a daily basis. My grandma passed away a few years ago and I live far from my home country and my mother. This perfume will stay with me forever and I will wear it to be reminded of the past that will never return :)

The current version is lighter than the original version, that's my opinion having worn this for years, and getting a new bottle today from Yves Rocher. I think the current version is more compatible with modern tastes, originally it was heavier per the 80's trend for power perfumes. The current version is better for me, it's an amber floral with just the right amount of sweetness. It is fairly linear as the amber is the strongest note. This can be warming worn in winter, and heady in summer.